Train-pipe coupling.



A. S. ENGLISH.

TRAIN PIPBGOUPLING.

APPLICATION nun JAILZI, 1914,

1,106,354., Patented Aug. 4, 191% Witnesses THE NORRIS P515155 60.. PHOTO-LHHLL. WASHINGTON. D. L.

STATES PATENT 1 OFFTC.

ALBERT S. ENGLISH, 0F ANACONDA, MONTANA.

TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

To all whom it may concern:

ENGLISH,

Be it known that I, ALBERT S.

acitizen of the United States, residing Anaconda,in the county of Deerlodge and State of Montana, have invented a new and useful Train-Pipe Coupling, of which the following is a specification. 1 This invention relates to improvements in train pipe couplings. An object of the present invention 1s to provide a train pipe coupling which will" automatically couple and uncouple the pipes of successive and ad olning cars of a train. A further ob ect is to provlcle an automatic coupling 1 which will remain tight against leaks Wlllle the cars are rounding a curve and which will allow for the rocking and jouncing of the cars.

A further object is to provide a coupling which will be simple in construction and thus cheap to manufacture and which will at the same time be practical and efiicient in use.

With the foregoing and. other objects in In the drawings accompanying this speci-.

fication and forming a part thereof, the preferred form of my invention is illustrated, in'which:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of my improved train pipe coupling. Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line A-A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the coupling member. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the plunger and the valve ball.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 5-5 represent two similar chambers which communicate through the cross pipe 6 and which latter is in communication with a pipe 7 which is to be coupled to a similar pipe disposed upon an adjacent car. Each car will be provided at each end with a coupling apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 2, and each of the said coupling devices includes two parts so that the various cars may be coupled in- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 21, 1914 Serial No. 813,510.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

discriminately and without regard to any fixed relation of the same.

The chambers or casings 5 which are identical, are each provided with the cover 8 which extends nearly the entire length of the casing and is substantially semi-circular in cross section and which is secured to and effects a tight joint with an outstanding flange 9. Each chamber is provided intermediate its ends with a partition 10 extending thereacross and into which fits the ball valve member 11 which is provided with the bore 12 extending therethrough and through which the plunger 13 slidably extends.

The plunger in question is composed of two parts, the front and rear sections '13 and 14L which are provided with the abutting threaded ends 15 which are secured in alinement and held together by an outstanding flanged coupling. 16 to which they are threadedly secured. The plunger is provided with the bore 17 extending there through and by means of which the air or steam is conducted through the coupling to the adjacent coupling which is in communication therewith. In order to maintain the plunger in an extended position, the tension springs 18 are provided and are fixedly secured to the flanged coupling 16 and to the front wall 19 of the casing 5. Thecasing 5 is formed into two non-communicating compartments by the partition 10 and the plunger extends through the ball-like valve 11 and projects into the rear compartment 20 and is prevented from moving therefrom by the outstanding integral flange 21 which is formed upon the extremity of the plunger. The plunger is provided with a plurality of openings 22 extending through the side walls thereof which when they come into communication with the rear compartment 20 allows the air or steam to flow into the plunger and therethrough.

he extreme ends of the plungers are formed one with a ball-like end 23 and the other with the receiving socket 24;. Thus the ball and socket ends of the two plungers of a single coupling device will register and receive the corresponding socket and ball-like ends of the adjacent coupling device of the next adjacent car.

With the foregoing coupling device, a tight and eflicient joint will be had between the couplings of two cars and the rounding of a curve will not in any way destroy the tight union therebetween. The ball and socket joint will at all times effect a tight union between the meeting plungers. Also the manner in which the plungers are connected together, allows for the rocking and side play of the cars. When the plungers are extended by the springs 18 the plungers will be automatically cut off from and out of communication, with the rear chamber 20 and therefore with the pipe 7 as it is thought will be readily apparent from a reference to the drawings.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. A pipe coupling apparatus comprising a pair of similar casings, means extending across the ends thereof holding the same in spaced relation, partitions extending across the casing intermediate the ends thereof, a

ball with a bore extending therethrough positioned within said partitions, pipe-like plungers extending through said ball bores and extending into the rear compartments defined by the partitions, supply pipes communicating with said rear compartments,

said plungers provided with closed inner ends and with apertures extending through the side walls thereof, said apertures effecting a valve action with the said balls, a flange carried by said plungers intermediate their ends and housed within said casings,

resilient means engaging said fiange and the walls of said casings adapted to hold the plungers in extended position, and means carried by the extremities of said plungers adapted to effect a tight juncture with the meeting extremities of a second pair of similar plungers.

2. A coupling apparatus comprising an integral frame with spaced parallel casings, partitions extending across the said casings intermediate their ends and dividing the same into front and rear compartments, supply pipes communicating with the said rear compartments, spherical valve members positioned within said partitions and provided with bores extending therethrough, sectional pipe-like plungers slidably mounted within said spherical valve members bores, said plungers provided with apertures extending through the side walls and eifectmediate the ends thereof, a ball with a bore extending therethrough positioned within said partition,- a pipe-like plunger extending through said ball bore and "extending ,into

the rear compartment defined by the partition, a supply pipe communicating with said rear compartment, saidplunger provided with a closed rear end and with an aperture extending throughthe side wall thereof, said aperture effecting a valve action with said bore, resilient means engaging the pipelike plunger and, the wall of said casing, adapted to hold said plunger in an extended position, and means carried by the extremity of said plunger adapted to effect a'tight juncture with the melting extremity of a second and oppositely'arranged plunger;

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT S. ENGLISH.

WVitnesses: I

RICHARD Lzioowsn,

FRANK CAMPBELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. C. 

